rampant

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "rampant" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means widely and quickly spreading or increasing in a wild or uncontrolled way. Example sentence: Rampant deforestation is causing serious environmental degradation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unemployment is rampant on Hormuz and I notice drug addicts in the street, a rare sight in Qeshm.

The Guardian

Despite stiff competition from a succession of crises during his 17-year tenure as president, Blatter admitted that the charges of "rampant, systemic and deep-rooted corruption" presaged by dawn raids in Zurich and revealed by US authorities on Wednesday were "shocking and unprecedented" in their scale.

The Guardian - Sport

But the UNHCR notes that those in the three main nations of origin – Syria, Eritrea and Somalia – are escaping conflict and rampant rights abuses.

The Guardian

The US attorney general, Loretta Lynch, alleged "rampant, systemic and deep-rooted corruption", making it clear their investigation is in its early stages, despite six guilty pleas including Blazer's and the extraordinary bribery, fraud and money laundering charges in the indictment of 14 others.

The Guardian - Sport

To be fair, the scenario by with this could happen involves an entire flip of the script by the league's bottom feeders, but with optimism running rampant in San Jose, who's to say to won't happen.

The Guardian - Sport

But it was also a world of repression, pointless hierarchies, sexism, racism and absolutely rampant homophobia.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Because we were called Wild, people assumed we were feral and rampant, barefoot in the street, with no adult supervision.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One of the premises is that many of the things we accept as "modern life" – rampant free markets, unregulated employers, hyper-surveillance of the public sector, a very powerful landlord class – are actually very old-fashioned.

The Guardian

15 min: Poland are utterly rampant, but still can't make that crucial breakthrough.

The Guardian - Sport

With the MDC now frozen out of government, there are concerns that corruption will run rampant while the people starve.

The Guardian

He described his country as a "low profile police state" with rampant corruption and few civil liberties.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rampant", ensure that the noun it modifies clearly indicates the negative or undesirable nature of the situation. For example, "rampant corruption" is more effective than simply "rampant growth" if the growth itself is problematic.

Common error

Avoid using "rampant" to describe positive developments. The word typically carries a negative connotation, so using it in a positive context can create confusion or sound awkward. Consider alternatives like "widespread" or "flourishing" for positive scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "rampant" functions as an attributive modifier, describing a noun by indicating that something is spreading uncontrollably or is widespread in a negative way. Ludwig AI shows many examples of its use with nouns like "corruption", "abuse", and "inflation".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Lifestyle

3%

Books

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rampant" is an adjective used to describe something negative that is spreading quickly and uncontrollably. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and formal contexts. When using this term, it's important to consider the potential negative implications and ensure that the context is appropriate. Alternatives like "widespread", "uncontrolled", or "prevalent" can offer subtle nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widespread

Indicates a broad distribution or occurrence, similar to "rampant" in its extensiveness.

uncontrolled

Focuses on the lack of regulation or restraint, highlighting the unmanaged aspect of "rampant".

unrestrained

Emphasizes the absence of limits or boundaries, mirroring the unchecked nature of "rampant".

prevalent

Suggests a common or dominant presence, akin to "rampant" in its pervasiveness.

unchecked

Highlights the lack of monitoring or control, reflecting the unbridled spread implied by "rampant".

rife

Implies an abundance, often of something negative, aligning with the negative connotation frequently associated with "rampant".

pervasive

Denotes a widespread and noticeable presence, similar to the extensive reach suggested by "rampant".

epidemic

Suggests a rapid and widespread outbreak, often used in the context of diseases or problems spreading quickly, which echoes the intensity of "rampant".

out of control

Conveys a sense of being unmanageable or unrestrained, emphasizing the lack of control implied by "rampant".

spiraling

Describes a situation that is rapidly escalating and becoming increasingly difficult to manage, reflecting the uncontrolled increase suggested by "rampant".

FAQs

How to use "rampant" in a sentence?

Use "rampant" to describe something negative that is spreading quickly and uncontrollably, such as "rampant corruption", "rampant inflation", or "rampant deforestation".

What can I say instead of "rampant"?

You can use alternatives like "widespread", "uncontrolled", or "prevalent" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "rampant corruption" or "common corruption"?

"Rampant corruption" suggests a more severe and widespread problem than "common corruption". "Rampant" implies that the corruption is out of control and rapidly increasing.

What's the difference between "rampant" and "pervasive"?

While both words suggest something widespread, "rampant" implies a more rapid and uncontrolled spread than "pervasive". "Pervasive" indicates something is present throughout, whereas "rampant" suggests it is actively spreading.